HC Deb 23 March 1978 vol 946 cc690-3W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for a stated date in each of the years from 1974 the total number of

FIRE SERVICE—ENGLAND AND WALES
FIRE BRIGADES' STRENGTH
Whole-time members Part-time members Junior Firemen
(including control room staff) Whole-time Part-time
At 31st December 1974 … … 31,117 14,011 67 33
At 31st December 1975 … … 32,550 14,704 40 32
At 31st December 1976 … … 32,592 15,065 41 32
CIVILIANS
At 31st March 1975 … … 5,268
At 31st March 1976 … … 5,230
At 31st March 1977 … … 5,275

COSTS (Out-turn at Out-turn prices)
Whole-time members

£

 Part-time members

£

 Junior Firemen

£

 Civilians

£
1974–75 … … … … … 91,582,721 6,558,724 76,594 9,439,340
1975–76 … … … … … 116,996,084 8,520,971 57,601 11,873,989
1976–77 … … … … … 129,729,953 12,008,843 50,181 14,155,054
The increase in whole-time members between 1974 and 1975 partly reflects the additional recruitment necessary to implement, with effect from 8th November 1974, the reduction of the firemen's working week from 56 to 48 hours. The increase in part-time members reflects more intensive recruitment to bring the part-time retained service up to strength. The rise in costs stem from those factors and from increases in wages and salaries.

POLICE SERVICE, INCLUDING CIVILIANS—ENGLAND AND WALES STRENGTH
Civilians
Police Officers Full-time Part-time Cadets Traffic Wardens
At 31st December 1974 … … 102,086 29,554 4,834 5,130 5,943
At 31st December 1975 … … 107,138 30,794 8,313 4,822 6,193
At 31st December 1976 … … 109,476 30,628 7,846 3,705 5,867
At 31st December 1977 … … 108,201 30,204 7,830 2,284 5,087

COSTS (Out-turn at Out-turn prices)
Police Civilians and Cadets Traffic Wardens
£ £ £
1974–75 … … … 316,061,988 78,286,215 12,280,533
1975–76 … … … 412,032,931 98,631,596 15,861,451
1976–77 … … … 476,706,299 111,030,948 17,354,426
The variations in the numbers of police officers result from the variations in recruitment rates and increases in establishment to meet additional policing needs. Civilian staff, traffic wardens and cadets strengths fell from 1975 to meet unavoidable increases in other expenditure on the police service. The rise in costs was due almost entirely to increases in numbers of police officers and rises in wages and salaries.

staff and employees in the fire and police services and in his Department, what were the total costs and what are the reasons for the rise or fall in the numbers and costs.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The available information is as follows:

HOME OFFICE
1974 1975 1976 1977 1978
Number of staff on 1st March … 29,010 31,027 32,829 32,930 33,651

1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78*
£m. £m. £m. £m.
Cost of wages and salaries … … … 106.9 150.5 162.3 179.3
* Estimated.
About three quarters of the additional 4,641 staff were required for the Prison Service to meet increasing commitments, including the rising prison population, additional court work and the starring of new establishments. 250 staff were transferred from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications in 1975. Most of the remainder were required for immigration control and police support services—forensic science, telecommunications and the police national computer. The increase in costs reflects the increase in staff and higher wages and salaries.